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County waiting for city recommendation for 48th and State intersection

Posted: Jul. 15, 2014 8:26 pm Updated: Jul. 29, 2014 9:15 pm

By MATT HOPFHerald-Whig Staff Writer

A plan to reduce 48th Street between Columbus and State from four lanes to three recently was shelved, but the construction of a roundabout or installation of traffic signals at 48th and State remain a possibility.

Adams County Engineer Jim Frankenhoff told the County Board on Tuesday that the project now is in the city of Quincy's hands.

"We're going to continue our joint agreement effort with the intersection, but right now, any proposed changes or reviews are based off city recommendation," he said. "They're going to review some of the aspects of the signalization of the intersection."

Frankenhoff said he hopes the city provides a recommendation for the intersection by the end of August.

Any construction at the intersection is not expected until at least 2016.

The plan, which called for adding a turn lane and bike lanes along 48th Street, was shelved by the Highway Department last month after opposition from nearby residents and businesses.

The cost to repaint 48th Street was projected to be $100,000. Construction of a roundabout, along with embankment work and other improvements at the intersection, was projected to cost $1.5 million.

In other business, the County Board approved a fund appropriation of $121,945 to cover the cost of recently approved union contracts.

The board approved three-year contracts in May with sheriff's deputies and sergeants, corrections officers, courthouse security and juvenile detention officers represented by the Fraternal Order of Police, Highway Department workers represented by the Teamsters, and paramedics and emergency medical technicians, and employees in the offices of clerk/recorder, treasurer and state's attorney represented by the Machinists Union. The contracts provide 2 percent annual raises.

Finance Committee member John Heidbreder, R-4, said the county has yet to reach an agreement with non-merited employees with the Sheriff's Department, such as animal control and courthouse maintenance workers, represented by the Machinists Union.

A second supplemental appropriation is expected at a future meeting for finalized contracts that have not been signed.

The County Board also:

º Approved the low bid of $73,685 from Rees Construction Co. for the road profile adjustment and signalization of the railroad crossing on East 2200th Street in the Camp Point Road District.

º Approved an amended intergovernmental agreement between Adams, Pike, Brown, Cass, Morgan and Scott counties for the combined Regional Office of Education to reflect that Illinois State Board of Education required the consolidation.

º Agreed to enter a law enforcement mutual aid agreement with the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System.